Stopped in a Local Gun Shop Today

[BrokenolMarine]

One of the girls lives about three hours away and called today to let us know that the goats she took to the butcher were ready. We could meet her halfway to pick up the fresh meat so neither of us would have to make a six hour round trip. On the drive back home with the meat safely iced down in a large cooler, we stopped at a local gun shop in a small town along the route to check for my Bucket List guns.



Sadly, they didn't have any of the guns on my Bucket List but he did have a couple that were close.

He had a Used Ruger Single Six, unique in it's caliber. The Single Six is usually a .22; this one was a .32 caliber, nice and clean, with the Ruger Factory fake ivory grips. I don't reload .32, don't have any other guns in that caliber, and he didn't have any ammo on the shelves in .32. I don't intend to add additional calibers to the safe, but it was a nice little Single Action.

He didn't have the Ruger #1 or Ruger American Predator in 223, but he did have a Savage Axis in 223; an entry level Bolt gun that has some good reviews on line. Not what I was looking for however, NOT on my bucket list, but a Scoped 223 for $349 is a pretty good buy. Savage does have a model a little farther up their line that is very highly rated, but very hard to find.


The 223 Ruger American Predator will accept the AR magazines, I have a few. The #1 is just beautiful. Bucket List... not guns I have to have. Guns I just want.

He says he gets in all the time. I left my card, he'll call if any of the six on the list come in.


I'm retired, it's a nice drive.

[cooperhawk]

The #1 is just beautiful. Bucket List... not guns I have to have.

I also love the #1. I have one in .243 and one in 7MM Mauser. I also have a #3 in .22 Hornet.
They are well made with nice wood and shoot extremely well.
The 7MM is the light sporter and it's really nice to carry in the brush. I hand load the cartridge
to a higher velocity than off the shelf ammo.

[BrokenolMarine]

The #1 is just beautiful. Bucket List... not guns I have to have.

I also love the #1. I have one in .243 and one in 7MM Mauser. I also have a #3 in .22 Hornet.
They are well made with nice wood and shoot extremely well.
The 7MM is the light sporter and it's really nice to carry in the brush. I hand load the cartridge
to a higher velocity than off the shelf ammo.

I have a gun collection built over the years. I reload for several calibers on the dillon 550 progressive. Don't look to add another caliber at this stage.

I always wanted a #1 since I saw a friend's in 22-250. His has beautiful wood and was a tack driver. I want to get either the #1 or an accurate bolt gun platform in 223 since I have that caliber in my collection now. The Ruger American will take AR mags, convienant, since I have one or two laying around if I go that route.

[Hatchdog]

Sure wish I was closer, recently I was looking for that exact Ruger in .32. I did end up with one in .327 which will shoot .32 of course but I liked the uniqueness of the .32 caliber.

Good choice on the American in .223 since it uses AR mags. I bought the Scout rifle in 5.56 and it’s a hoot to shoot. Unfortunately it takes ACIS mags which are much more expensive than P-mags. 223 bolt guns are just plain fun. Local guy has a 7.62x39 bolt gun for sale that’s tempting but I’m going to exercise some self control here………… like you, it would be a new caliber and even tho a set of dies are included I’m……I’m…….I’m going to pass!


The rifle is a CZ 527 Carbine. Sure is a good looking carbine. Comes with lots of ammo and a set of dies. He’s looking for a trade not a cash sale…….resist hatchdog, resist……

As BOM says below, decide what you need a tool for and choose depending on that. (Man I hate common sense )

06CA4349-6C05-478B-801D-D89DC9A72BF2.jpeg (121.59 KiB) Viewed 1267 times

[North Country Gal]

The original 32 cal Single Six was in 32 H&R Mag when that caliber first came out in 1984. It was actually called the Single Six Magnum. I had one and it was a delight to shoot in 32 H&R. There was also a much rarer Bisley Single Six in 32 H&R that was introduced a couple years, later, when Ruger introduced the Bisley. That one is on my bucket list.

More recently, there have been seven shot Single Sixes called Single Sevens in 327 mag and there have also been limited runs of a Bisley in 32 H&R. Had a Single Seven and it was a great shooter in 327, but I shot mostly 32 H&Rs with that gun.

The 32 H&R in a single action gets my vote as the moist pleasant and relaxing way to shoot a centerfire single action.

[cooperhawk]

Local guy has a 7.62x39 bolt gun for sale that’s tempting but I’m going to exercise some self control here………… like you, it would be a new caliber and even tho a set of dies are included I’m……I’m…….I’m going to pass!

Oh come on, you know you want it. It's almost a 7x57.

The older Mausers probably should not be loaded up to higher velocities. Depending where they were made they
might not stand up to the pressures. Now if it was German made...........

[BrokenolMarine]

I have been looking at the Ruger line on line, they also make the bolt guns in a Ranch version, with a 16" barrel vs. the 22" barrel of the predator or varmint version. It would ride better in the utv or pickup. Although the Ranch wouldn't have the range of the varmint versions, I wouldn't be making/ taking shots over 100 yards on the farm anyway. I'm not a hunter, would be using the rifle for predator/varmint control.

An honest look at the use of the firearm will often help in the decision of what to purchase, or more importantly IF to purchase.

[BigAl52]

Sure wish I was closer, recently I was looking for that exact Ruger in .32. I did end up with one in .327 which will shoot .32 of course but I liked the uniqueness of the .32 caliber.

Good choice on the American in .223 since it uses AR mags. I bought the Scout rifle in 5.56 and it’s a hoot to shoot. Unfortunately it takes ACIS mags which are much more expensive than P-mags. 223 bolt guns are just plain fun. Local guy has a 7.62x39 bolt gun for sale that’s tempting but I’m going to exercise some self control here………… like you, it would be a new caliber and even tho a set of dies are included I’m……I’m…….I’m going to pass!


The rifle is a CZ 527 Carbine. Sure is a good looking carbine. Comes with lots of ammo and a set of dies. He’s looking for a trade not a cash sale…….resist hatchdog, resist……

As BOM says below, decide what you need a tool for and choose depending on that. (Man I hate common sense )


06CA4349-6C05-478B-801D-D89DC9A72BF2.jpeg

If you want that I wouldnt pass on it. Mine shoots that cheap Russian ammo very well and the set trigger on that gun is awesome. I love mine and I dont know what they want for it but I know one thing if you shot one you would be grinning from ear to ear. There hows that for enabling

[Vaquero]

Marine, man I would like to find one of those 32's around here.
As to the Axis, I picked one last year on the low, low without the scope.
Heck I have more in the scope than the rifle.
After a little work on the trigger, it's in the 3 lb range now.
And with some of my own loads, it'll group inside a quarter easily at a 100 yds.

RP

[BrokenolMarine]

I think I'm leaning toward the Ruger American Ranch bolt action in 223. With the 16" barrel it will fit the utv rack better. It's supposedly very accurate to 200 yards or so, and I don't need shots more than that on my farm. It will use the AR mags. If I can't find one, the savage axis 2 has an upgraded trigger for an extra $150, still in the $500 range.

[Hatchdog]

If you run across a Ruger Scout in .223 the scout rail can be removed and a scope can be mounted in the normal position on the receiver. I believe Ruger has discontinued it in .223 but there are some out there. Probably more expensive than the American however.

[BrokenolMarine]

Score!

Drove the wife up to OKC on Sunday to pick up an older Bernina she had seen on Craigslist. The mom had passed, the son was selling the house, and needed to clean out the sewing room. He had sold a Quilting Machine for a handsome profit, and a few other things, but mom loved the Bernina and he wanted it to go to someone who would use it. Tina sent a pic of Her sewing room, he gave her a great price, and then loaded the back of the truck with rubbermaid tubs of extras.
Tina Scored!

On the way in, Tina spotted an indoor shooting range/gun store, "We can check there on the way out, you might find something." What a woman.

I walked thru the doors, and it was like Bass Pro for GUNS. I wandered around, and I think I might have drooled a little. The long guns were organized by caliber, and nestled there in the 223 case was the Ruger American Bolt Action 556/223 with magpull 10 round AR mag. Sweet.

Yup. They had a Vortex Copperhead scope 4x12 on sale, retail $209, sale price was $119. The gunsmith didn't work on Sunday so we are driving back up today. They will mount and boresight the scope at no charge.

So, to make sure, I made a loop around the store before my final purchase.
There, hiding in the handgun showcase... The elusive Uberti Birds Head Single Action 357. What to do? Two of the top guns on my bucket list. I wandered around the store for ten minutes in quiet contemplation, then did what any good Marine would do. I bought them both...

With today's situation... I might not see them again.


Pics to follow...
The Ruger is utility, a working gun.
The Uberti is beautuful. Color case hardened, and blue.

Yup, Grumpy Scored Too

[Hatchdog]

Congratulations times two!

Looking forward to seeing the pictures.

Really, congratulations times three, Tina needs to be included.

[BrokenolMarine]

We made it back up to OKC today. Tina went to the sewing shop to drop off two machines for maintenance. Dropped me at the Shooting Range to have the scope mounted. While they did that, she went on and checked out the sewing store and took care of HER thang... I checked out the ammo situation. They had bulk shotgun ammo on sale, by the case! They had bulk rifle ammo in various calibers on sale, by the case, but only in FMJ. Hunting ammo you are limited to ONE box in each caliber, per person, per day and the computerized register keeps track. Can't hack the system by going from one clerk to the other. BUT, I was able to get two boxes of 308 and two of 223 soft points because "I" bought one of each and Miss T bought one of each. We will both be shooting the yotes so fair is fair.

I didn't need cases of 223 or 308 FMJ, so I didn't buy it...
Maybe I should have bought one case of 308 since I only have 100 rounds total?

Here is the Ruger American Ranch 556 with the Vortex Copperhead Scope. Hopefully I'll start on the berm next week and get to try 'er out.

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Tina said, "Eww, that things ugly." I told her it's a working gun, you don't need pretty wood and a bright shiny barrel. It will be beautiful if it shoots nice tight groups.

This is the Uberti Birds Head 357.

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Tina liked this one... "Beautiful" was her opinion. "Heavy" was the next comment.
"It's a short barreled 357." I said, "You'll like the way the grips are shaped and all that weight."



Berm... need to get busy on the berm. One handed or not... that's what the tractor is for.

[North Country Gal]

Congrats! Yes, you have a good woman, there. That Uberti is awesome. No way would I have passed it up. Can't wait to hear how it shoots.

[brm4450]

Sweet deal

[Hatchdog]

Haven’t had a centerfire American but I had a 22 wmr and my wife has a LR both Americans. Both ran flawlessly and are/were very accurate. Many a ground squirrel came to a sudden end with both.